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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 28, 2019 12:43 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Malcolm Kenyatta and Rep. Danilo Burgos |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Marriage Equality – Repealing Section 1704 (Marriage Between Persons of the Same Sex) |
| Marriage is a sacred and ancient institution that was only recently opened up to same-sex couples across the country. While numerous states had previously recognized the right of same-sex couples to marry, it was the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, that made it clear that marriage, and all of it’s privileges and responsibilities, should be available for all. Unfortunately, there are still many states, including our own, that retain outdated, unconstitutional, and unnecessary sections of law that prohibit marriage equality. As former Justice Anthony Kennedy stated in the Supreme Court’s ruling, “changed understandings of marriage are characteristic of a nation where new dimensions of freedom become apparent to new generations,” and it is time that we permanently acknowledged this in our statutes. My legislation would bring our laws up to date by repealing Section 1704 (Marriage Between Persons of the Same Sex) of Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Marriage equality has been enshrined as a right by both our state and federal governments, and this section of law no longer represents the modern definition and view of marriage. As legislators, it is our duty to make sure that we continue to stay up to date and retain laws that reflect the will of our constituents. It is truly a disservice to all of our fellow Pennsylvanians who are in loving, same-sex marriages to continue to allow this obsolete section of law to exist in our statutes. Please join me in repealing Section 1704 to protect and show continued compassion and support for marriage equality in our great state. |
Introduced as HB1703